Brighton 27J Board of Education unanimously approves extension of Eagle Ridge Academy charter

BRIGHTON – The charter for Eagle Ridge Academy was extended for one year by a unanimous vote of the Brighton 27J School District Board of Education Tuesday night, Jan. 22.

The original charter for Eagle Ridge, granted in 2010, was set to expire June 30. With the board’s vote, a 75-day period begins in which the district and Eagle Ridge Academy will hammer out the terms of a new contract, which will require approval from the board later this year.

Monday’s night action by the board followed the school’s renewal application, which was submitted late last year. A district site review and interviews of Eagle Ridge leaders and governing board members followed.

According to 27J spokesman Kevin Denke, the district’s confidence in the new leadership of first-year Head of School Ben Ploeger was part of the recommendation made to the board regarding the extension of Eagle Ridge Academy’s charter. Former 27J superintendent Rod Blunck and Cathy Pellish, dean of instruction at Front Range Community College, were also cited for their work on Eagle Ridge’s governing board.

The school has been under close scrutiny following the arrest of former school chief Bob Hughes on suspicion of theft and embezzlement. 

Superintendent Chris Fiedler said a little less than $225,000 has to be repaid to the Colorado Department of Education in the next five weeks. The district will pay the money to the education department, and the school has two years to repay the district. The amount translates to about $100 per in-student funding over the five years.